Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores what is involved in shifting the focus in the security realm from 'national interest' to the safety and needs of humans. Addresses several contemporary issues of human insecurity such as genocide, terrorism, civil wars and other complex emergencies; the political economy of conflict (small arms, "blood" diamonds); 'new' inequalities (economic, gender, class, ethnicity); and new health risks (e.g. HIV/AIDS, SARS, ecological degradation). Considers recent initiatives and trends that have emerged to deal with these issues (e.g. humanitarian intervention, International Criminal Court, new coalitions of state and non-state actors such as the Ottawa Process on anti-personnel mines). Students with credit for POL 349 'Special Topics' for credit under this title may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines the concept of human security in a changing world of globalization. We will explore past and contemporary debates surrounding the definition, conceptualization, and scope of human security, the forces and processes shaping ideas about human security in present times, and the role of international institutions in promoting human security. The course structure is as follows: Part I will address the question of “ what is human security” by tracing the origin, evolution, and controversies related to the “freedom from fear” vs. “freedom from want” meanings of the concept.  Part II will situate the concept of human security within traditional and critical approaches to security studies, especially in the context of civil conflicts and other inter-relational threats such as terrorism, poverty, hunger, disease, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation.  Part III will identify the role of international institutions and non-state actors, such as NGOs and Global Civil Society organizations in addressing present-day challenges to human security.  Leading questions will include, but are not limited to, the following:
•   Is human security “freedom from fear” or “freedom from want” or both?
•    Does the idea of human security essentially challenge or complement the   traditional approach to security?
•    Is the focus on human security a more accurate way of conceptualizing international security or insecurity in the 21st century? We will critically engage these questions to understand important theoretical and practical shifts in the discourse on human security.  

There will be a four-hour lecture each week

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

RECOMMENDED READING: